Featured Deals

Segreto Cucina Italiano

"We didn't want to stick with the typical old-school Italian menu," owner Nick told us over house-made Italian sodas and truffle fries, adding that they wanted to give Suwanee a modern-eatery feel without the half-hour trek into Atlanta.

When it comes to Italian dining in the northlerly 'burbs, one might expect certain things: never-ending breadsticks, say, or perhaps the same ol' same ol' chicken parm. To say Segreto defied those expectations would be a gross understatement. This place took our OTP dining expectations, turned them inside-out, dipped them in truffle butter and served 'em to us on a platter next to a watermelon martini. "We didn't want to stick with the typical old-school Italian menu," owner Nick told us over house-made Italian sodas and truffle fries, adding that they wanted to give Suwanee a modern, forward-thinking dining option without the requisite half-hour trek down into Atlanta proper. As far as we're concerned? Mission accomplished. Because we're fairly certain there aren't too many other places in this neck of the woods rocking artisan cheeses, arancini and lamb lollipops on their menu. It's a hidden gem in the truest sense, tucked away and covertly serving some of the best Italian fare in the area. Make sense—their name does translate to "secret Italian kitchen," after all. But we're pretty sure the secret's out.

Of course, if classic, old-school Italian's your thing, there's a big bowl of bolognese with your name on it. And since each of Segreto's sauces are simmered for two days before being served, you can rest assured it'll be delicious. But for those looking to expand their Italian culinary horizons a bit beyond pasta and sauce, few places in the area can really compare to Segreto's inventive menu. With a mix of plates both large and small, the menu is made for sharing—that is, if you don't mind sharing that plate of short rib risotto with your dining companion. (We do.) That creativity extends to the bar, too, where libations like watermelon-mint martinis and homemade Italian sodas (spiked, if you want to take that blueberry basil concoction to the next level). And then, for lunch-goers, there's this creation: the piada, an Italian street food that's essentially a kind of gooey, cheesy, pasta-stuffed burrito. If there were ever a reason for intowners to be jealous of their northerly neighbors, we'd wager a cappellini alfredo-stuffed wrap (served with truffle fries, naturally) would be it. Toto, we aren't in Gwinett County anymore.